Residential Children's Home · Hunts Cross, Liverpool

Where Every Child Finds
a Place to Belong

Ashton House is a warm, therapeutic residential home for children and young people in Hunts Cross, Liverpool — operated by Aspire Care and Support Ltd. We believe that residential care, delivered with skill, compassion and integrity, can be the first and best placement of choice for a child.

Home NameAshton House
Address23 Ashton Drive, Hunts Cross, Liverpool L25 0NR
Telephone0151 363 1552
Registered ProviderAspire Care and Support Ltd (Co. No. 16848578)
Registered ManagerTeresa Farrelly
Responsible IndividualAnn Norris
CapacityUp to 2 children or young people
Age Range7–17 years (mixed gender)
Placement TypeShort to long-term, including solo placements
Regulatory BodyOfsted

Who We Are

Residential Care as a First Choice

At Aspire Care and Support Ltd, we were founded with a clear and passionate mission: to provide a safe, supportive and nurturing environment for vulnerable children and young people, where every child is seen, heard, valued and given the best possible chance to thrive.

We believe firmly that residential childcare — when delivered with skill, compassion and integrity — can be the first and best placement of choice for children whose needs cannot be safely met within their family or foster care. Our therapeutic model provides a powerful environment capable of delivering lasting, positive change.

Our home is small by design. With a maximum of two young people, Ashton House offers the kind of focused attention, consistent relationships and therapeutic stability that children who have faced adversity truly need. We do not just provide accommodation — we provide a home.

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Child First

Every decision we make is guided by one question: what is in this child's best interests? Everything else follows from that.

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Honesty

We are open, transparent and accountable — with children, families, placing authorities, and each other.

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Resilience

We never give up on a child, no matter how hard the journey. We hold hope for young people, even when they cannot hold it for themselves.

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Teamwork

We support each other to be the best we can be. A strong, united team is the foundation of everything we offer to the children in our care.

"We do not see children through the lens of their history. We see them through the lens of their potential."
Aspire Care and Support Ltd

About Us

Our Organisation

Aspire Care and Support Ltd is a dedicated children's residential care provider with a clear purpose: to provide a safe, supportive and nurturing environment for vulnerable children and young people. Every assessment is individually matched to need, regularly reviewed, and every child is placed at the forefront of everything we do.

Whether children are with us for a short period or a longer stay, our focus remains constant — on transitions, personal growth, stability and realistic positive outcomes.

Our Leadership

The People Behind Ashton House

Responsible Individual

Ann Norris

Ann brings over 12 years of senior leadership experience within services supporting vulnerable children, young people and families, alongside 17 years in the charitable sector supporting vulnerable families and young parents across areas including parenting skills, independent living and financial management.

Ann's background encompasses extensive responsibility for safeguarding governance, health and safety, policy development, multi-agency working and quality assurance. She holds a Level 5 Diploma in Leadership and Management, a Level 5 Safeguarding qualification, and is a qualified Motivational Interviewing practitioner.

As Responsible Individual, Ann provides clear strategic oversight, robust safeguarding leadership and consistent support and challenge to the Registered Manager — ensuring regulatory requirements are fully met and children's welfare remains at the heart of every decision.

ann.norris@aspirecareandsupport.co.uk  ·  07749 130565
Registered Manager

Teresa Alero Farrelly

Teresa brings more than 27 years of leadership and safeguarding expertise to her role as Registered Manager. Her career has spanned frontline practice management, service development, supervision and appraisal of staff, financial oversight, complaints management and disciplinary processes.

As a former Nominated Individual, Teresa successfully established new residential services, ensured full Ofsted compliance, and led an organisation through inspection. Her experience as an Independent Reviewing Officer and Child Protection Conference Chair has equipped her to manage high-risk situations with calm authority.

Teresa has managed an array of social work teams including Child Protection, Looked After Children and Child in Need, and was part of the pilot for the Child Assessment Framework as an Area Team Leader. She is a trained Motivational Interviewing practitioner and has extensive experience of Local Authority Designated Officer work, including managing allegations against staff and chairing complex multi-agency safeguarding meetings.

teresa.farrelly@aspirecareandsupport.co.uk  ·  07984 973516
Non-Operational Directors

James Bennett & Sergiu Ghiuzan

James and Sergiu serve as Non-Operational Directors, providing strategic oversight, financial governance and long-term sustainability planning. As parents themselves, both bring a deep personal commitment to ensuring every child receives the stability, care and opportunities they deserve.

James is the parent of a child with Autism and complex behavioural needs, and this lived experience directly informs the ethos and values of Aspire Care and Support — shaping a service that is compassionate, patient and genuinely child-centred. Both Directors bring extensive experience in business and property development.

Ashton House

A Place to Call Home

Ashton House is a warm, comfortable and genuinely homely residential children's home in Hunts Cross, Liverpool. Designed not as an institution but as a real home — a place where children can relax, be themselves, feel safe, and begin to build the stable foundation every young person deserves.

Where We Are

Located at 23 Ashton Drive, Hunts Cross, Liverpool L25 0NR, within a settled residential neighbourhood carefully assessed as suitable for children requiring stability and community integration. The local area offers:

  • Local shops and supermarkets within comfortable walking distance
  • Beautiful Calderstones Park nearby
  • Nearby sports centre and recreational facilities
  • Primary and secondary schools in close proximity
  • Hunts Cross railway station — direct links to Liverpool City Centre
  • Strong bus routes serving the wider Merseyside area
  • Access to Liverpool's diverse cultural, sporting and community life
  • A vibrant, multicultural community supporting identity work
  • NHS and Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services accessible across the city
  • Liverpool City Council Children's Services and Liverpool Safeguarding Children Partnership infrastructure

Capacity and Solo Placements

Registered for up to two children or young people aged 7–17 years (mixed gender). Our small size is deliberate — every child receives focused attention, genuine relationships and therapeutic consistency that larger homes cannot match.

We offer solo placements for children whose needs mean that a shared living environment presents a risk to their safety or progress. A child placed with us as a solo placement has a full, active and socially connected life — enriching, not isolating.

"Our goal is always to give each child the environment in which they can heal, grow and begin to build a future. For some children, that means having a home that is truly, fully theirs."

How We Work

Our Approach to Care

Everything we do at Ashton House is rooted in a deep belief that every child — regardless of their history, their behaviour or the complexity of their needs — is capable of growth, connection and a better future.

Trauma-Informed Care

The behaviours we see in children are often the legacy of experiences they had no control over. All staff complete training in trauma and adverse childhood experiences, attachment theory and therapeutic approaches before working directly with children.

The PACE Approach

We use the PACE model — Playfulness, Acceptance, Curiosity and Empathy — developed by Dr Dan Hughes. PACE is not a technique but an attitude: a way of being with children that helps them feel safe enough to begin to trust.

Motivational Interviewing

Both Ann Norris and Teresa Farrelly are qualified Motivational Interviewing practitioners. Staff use open questions, affirmations, reflective listening and summaries to help young people explore their own motivations for change.

Attachment-Based Practice

Our keyworking model is built explicitly as a therapeutic attachment relationship — consistent, warm, reliable and child-led. Staff are stable. Relationships are intentional. Trust is earned slowly, and we are patient.

Education, Voice and Family

We work closely with schools, Virtual School Heads and specialist providers to ensure every child is in appropriate education. Every child knows how to raise concerns, access advocacy and be taken seriously.

Cultural Identity

Every child's cultural, linguistic, religious and ethnic identity is respected, celebrated and actively supported. Contact with family is facilitated in line with each child's wishes and the guidance of their placing authority.

Specialist Experience

The Needs We Support

  • Trauma and Adverse Childhood Experiences
  • Social, Emotional and Mental Health needs
  • Autism, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and Pathological Demand Avoidance
  • Attachment difficulties and relational trauma
  • Repeated placement breakdown
  • Child sexual exploitation and child criminal exploitation risk
  • Missing from care histories
  • Emerging or diagnosed mental health needs
  • Offending behaviour and youth justice involvement
  • Solo placement need
  • Separated migrant young people
  • Deprivation of Liberty arrangements

What We Achieve

Our Outcomes

Outcomes are not an afterthought — they are the whole point. Everything we do is measured against one question: is this child's life genuinely better because they came to Ashton House?

1

Children are Safe

Every child's safety is our absolute priority. We operate a robust safeguarding culture, work within a strong multi-agency framework, and ensure every child knows that their safety matters above all else.

2

Children are Healthy

We promote and support the physical and emotional health of every child — including access to GP, dental, Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services and specialist services. We support children to understand and make positive choices about their own health.

3

Children Achieve Educationally

We work with schools, Virtual School Heads, educational psychologists and specialist providers to ensure every child is in appropriate, accessible education. We celebrate every achievement and work patiently to rebuild fractured relationships with learning.

4

Children Build Emotional Resilience

Through trauma-informed, PACE-led, attachment-based practice and Motivational Interviewing, we help young people develop self-awareness, empathy, communication and conflict-resolution skills that stay with them for life.

5

Children Have a Strong Sense of Identity

Every child's cultural, linguistic, religious and ethnic identity is respected, celebrated and actively supported. We help every child understand who they are, where they come from, and why that matters.

6

Children Maintain Safe Relationships

We support children to build and maintain healthy relationships — with family, friends, peers and community. We facilitate family time and contact and actively support connections that will sustain young people beyond their time with us.

7

Children Progress Towards Independence

For young people approaching adulthood, we actively develop practical life skills, financial awareness and confidence. We work with leaving care teams to ensure no young person leaves without a clear, supported plan.

8

Children's Voices are Heard

Every child participates meaningfully in decisions about their own life. We use Motivational Interviewing, adapted communication tools and independent advocacy to ensure every child can express their views and be taken seriously.

"Whether children are with us for weeks or years, our goal is the same: that every child leaves Ashton House more confident, more resilient, and more hopeful about their future than when they arrived."

The People Who Make It Happen

Our Staffing Structure

Aspire Care and Support Ltd operates with a clear, accountable management structure. Every role has defined responsibilities, every staff member receives regular supervision, and every layer of the structure ensures children are always safe, well-supported and cared for by trained professionals. A four-week rolling rota minimises reliance on agency workers — because stability in staffing means stability for children.

Responsible Individual

Ann Norris
Level 5 Leadership and Management; Level 5 Safeguarding; qualified Motivational Interviewing practitioner. Strategic oversight, governance and safeguarding accountability.

Registered Manager

Teresa Alero Farrelly
27+ years' experience; former Independent Reviewing Officer and Nominated Individual; extensive Local Authority Designated Officer experience. Day-to-day operational management and Designated Safeguarding Lead.

Senior Lead

Experience in residential childcare; Level 4 Diploma in Leadership and Management. Supports the Registered Manager and leads shifts in the RM's absence.

Senior Residential Support Worker

Level 3 Diploma in Residential Childcare. Leads individual shifts, guides and supports Residential Support Workers, and holds a keyworking role for named children.

Residential Support Worker

Working towards Level 3 Diploma within 6 months of appointment. Builds genuine therapeutic relationships and supports children through daily life. Monthly supervision provided.

Bank / Relief Staff

Same standards as core staff. Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check required before commencement. Same induction, training and supervision expectations as core staff.

Learning and Development

Staff Training Programme

Every member of staff completes comprehensive training before working directly with children, with ongoing development throughout their time at Ashton House.

  • Safeguarding and child protection — updated annually
  • Trauma-informed care and Adverse Childhood Experiences — minimum 2-day accredited course within 8 weeks
  • Attachment theory and adolescent development
  • The PACE approach — Playfulness, Acceptance, Curiosity and Empathy
  • Motivational Interviewing — introductory for all; deeper continuing professional development for keyworkers
  • Understanding Social Emotional and Mental Health, Autism, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and Pathological Demand Avoidance
  • Mental health awareness including suicide and self-harm
  • Safer Handling physical intervention — accredited and reviewed regularly
  • Missing from care and contextual safeguarding
  • Equality, diversity and inclusion
  • Health and safety, fire safety and first aid
  • Record keeping and information governance
  • Regulation 44/45 and quality assurance processes

Placing Authorities & Professionals

Making a Referral

We welcome enquiries from local authorities, Independent Reviewing Officers, social workers and other professionals. We aim to respond to all referral enquiries promptly and with the seriousness they deserve.

Who We Accept

Ashton House accepts referrals for children and young people aged 7–17 years (mixed gender), including children with:

  • Complex trauma histories and Adverse Childhood Experiences
  • Social, Emotional and Mental Health needs
  • Autism, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and Pathological Demand Avoidance
  • Attachment difficulties and a history of relational trauma
  • Repeated placement breakdown requiring a therapeutic reset
  • Child sexual exploitation and child criminal exploitation risk
  • Missing from care histories
  • Emerging or diagnosed mental health needs
  • Offending behaviour and youth justice involvement
  • A need for a solo placement in a fully therapeutic environment
  • Separated migrant young people requiring culturally sensitive support
  • Deprivation of Liberty arrangements

Step by Step

Our Referral Process

1

Initial Enquiry

Call or email Teresa Farrelly to discuss the child's needs. We are happy to talk before any formal documentation is submitted.

2

Referral Documentation

We will ask for the child's most recent care plan, risk assessments, placement history and relevant reports. All information is treated in strict confidence in accordance with UK General Data Protection Regulation.

3

Matching and Decision

Teresa personally reviews all referral information. Where we can safely and appropriately meet the child's needs, we confirm interest and move to a placement planning discussion.

4

Placement Planning

We agree the care plan, risk management strategies, contact arrangements, key worker allocation and start date. We do not accept placements without a proper planning process.

5

Transition and Admission

Where possible we support a planned transition including visits before admission. Every child is welcomed personally at a pace that suits them.

Contact to Discuss a Placement

Registered ManagerTeresa Alero Farrelly
Telephone0151 363 1552
Direct07984 973516
Emailteresa.farrelly@aspirecareandsupport.co.uk
Address23 Ashton Drive, Hunts Cross, Liverpool L25 0NR

Common Questions

Referral FAQs

How quickly can you respond to a referral?
We aim to acknowledge all referral enquiries within one working day and provide a substantive response within two to three working days of receiving full referral documentation. We understand placements are often needed urgently and will always do our best to respond as quickly as the situation requires.
Do you accept emergency or short-notice placements?
We are able to consider emergency placements where we have a current vacancy. However, we will always need sufficient information to be satisfied that we can safely and appropriately meet the child's needs before accepting any placement. Please call us to discuss the situation directly.
What age range do you cater for?
Ashton House accepts children and young people aged 7 to 17 years on admission (mixed gender). We can support young people into early adulthood where the placement began before their 18th birthday, and it is in their best interests to remain.
Can you accommodate a child with a Deprivation of Liberty authorisation?
Yes, we are able to consider placements where a Deprivation of Liberty authorisation is in place, provided the conditions can be safely met within our environment and staffing model. We will work closely with the placing authority and legal teams to ensure compliance at all times.
Do you offer solo placements?
Yes. We regularly operate with a single child in the home. For children whose needs mean a shared living environment presents a risk, a solo placement at Ashton House can be a genuinely positive and therapeutic option — enriching, not isolating.
What happens at a Looked After Child review?
Our Registered Manager or a senior staff member attends all Looked After Child reviews and prepares a written placement report in advance covering progress across all domains — health, education, emotional wellbeing, relationships, identity and safety.
How do you manage challenging behaviour?
We take a trauma-informed, de-escalation-led approach. Staff are trained in Motivational Interviewing, PACE and Safer Handling. Physical intervention is used only as an absolute last resort and every use is recorded, reported and reviewed. The child's Behavioural Management Plan is a living document that is updated, risk assessed and reviewed in a multi-agency setting on a regular basis.
How do you support children's education?
We work with schools, Virtual School Heads, educational psychologists and specialist providers from the outset of every placement. We support Education, Health and Care Plans, attend education meetings and promote every child's progress. Where a child is not in education at admission, we provide in-home educational support.
How do you communicate with placing authorities?
We provide regular written updates, facilitate social worker visits, and are available by phone and email at all times. We notify placing authorities immediately of any significant incidents. Transparent, proactive communication is fundamental to our model.
Are you Ofsted registered?
Yes. Ashton House is registered with and regulated by Ofsted under the Children's Homes (England) Regulations 2015. Copies of our Statement of Purpose and any inspection reports are available on request.
What are your fees?
Our fees reflect the quality, specialism and intensity of the care we provide. Please contact Teresa Farrelly directly to discuss fees in relation to a specific child's needs and placement requirements.
How do I make a referral?
Contact Teresa Farrelly by telephone on 07984 973516 or email teresa.farrelly@aspirecareandsupport.co.uk. You can also call the home directly on 0151 363 1552.

Join Our Team

Work With Us at Ashton House

Working at Ashton House is more than a job. It is an opportunity to make a lasting, meaningful difference to the life of a child. We are looking for people who share our values, our commitment and our belief that every child deserves the best. We are a close-knit team and we invest heavily in our people.

Current Vacancy

Residential Support Worker

Salary£14.00 per hour (£27,300 per annum pro rata)
Sleep-in Supplement£60.00 per night (approx. £6,240 per annum)
Total PackageUp to £33,540 per annum

You will build genuine relationships with young people, support their daily lives, and help them feel safe, valued and at home. Full funding for the Level 3 Diploma in Residential Childcare is provided.

Current Vacancy

Senior Residential Support Worker

Salary£15.00 per hour (£29,250 per annum pro rata)
Sleep-in Supplement£60.00 per night (approx. £6,240 per annum)
Total PackageUp to £35,490 per annum

You will lead shifts, support colleagues and play a key role in the quality of care we deliver. Support towards the Level 5 Diploma in Leadership and Management for Residential Childcare is available.

Why Ashton House

What We Offer

  • Competitive salary with £60 sleep-in supplement per night
  • 28 days' paid annual leave
  • Fully funded Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check
  • Funded Level 3 Diploma in Residential Childcare
  • Support towards Level 5 Diploma (senior roles)
  • Monthly supervision and annual appraisal
  • In-house training: trauma, PACE, Motivational Interviewing, safeguarding
  • A close-knit, supportive team environment
  • Real career progression within a growing, values-driven organisation
  • The opportunity to make a genuine, lasting difference to a child's life

How to Apply

Send your CV and a covering letter to Teresa Farrelly telling us why you want to work at Ashton House and what you would bring to our team. We read every application personally.

Emailteresa.farrelly@aspirecareandsupport.co.uk
Telephone0151 363 1552 / 07984 973516
Address23 Ashton Drive, Hunts Cross, Liverpool L25 0NR

Ashton House is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. All posts are subject to an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check with the Children's Barred List. We welcome applications from all sections of the community.

Get in Touch

Contact Ashton House

Whether you are a professional looking to make a referral, a family seeking information, or someone interested in joining our team — please get in touch. We are always happy to talk.

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Address
23 Ashton Drive, Hunts Cross, Liverpool L25 0NR
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Telephone
0151 363 1552
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Registered Manager
Teresa Alero Farrelly
07984 973516
teresa.farrelly@aspirecareandsupport.co.uk
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Registered Office
28 Withycombe Road, Penketh, Warrington WA5 2QL
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Company Number
16848578

Send an Enquiry

We aim to respond to all enquiries within one working day.

Complaints

Raising a Concern

Please contact Teresa Farrelly in the first instance. Our full complaints procedure is available on request. If you remain dissatisfied, you may contact Ofsted directly.

Ofsted AddressPiccadilly Gate, Store Street, Manchester M1 2WD
Ofsted Telephone0300 123 1231
Ofsted Websitewww.ofsted.gov.uk

Safeguarding

Safeguarding Contacts

Designated Safeguarding LeadTeresa Farrelly — 07984 973516
Deputy Designated Safeguarding LeadAnn Norris — 07749 130565
Liverpool Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub0151 233 3700
Liverpool Local Authority Designated Officer0151 459 2606 · lado@liverpool.gov.uk
Emergency Services999
Police (non-emergency)101
NSPCC Professionals' Helpline0808 800 5000